Tie rod assembly for concrete wall forms and cone therefor



EFOR

J. E. IMONETTI Aug. 9, 1960 TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS ANDCONE THER Filed Sept. 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E, W w w I? Aug. 9, 19602,948,045

TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS AND com: THEREFOR J. E.IMONETTI 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1958 INVENTOR.

Aug 9, 1960 J. E. lMONETTl TIE ROD- ASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS ANDCONE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. -/5%7/zIZazmzeZZi M i v42? wwwwwg Q77'E72/v/ceg 2,948,045 Patented Aug. 9, 1960United States Patent Chico TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALL FORMS ANDCONE THEREFOR John E. Imonetti, Prospect Heights, 111., assignor toSymons Clamp & Mfg. Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware FiledSept. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 759,094

relatin (125-131) The present invention relates to tie rods for use inconnection with concrete wall forms and the like and has particularreference to that type of tie rod which is designed for use inmaintaining a pair of opposed wall forms in properly spacedrelationshipandin holding such forms against outward displacement duringpouring of the concrete between the forms. Still more spcifically, theinvention is concerned with frangible tie rods of the general type shownand described in the patent to Symons, No. 2,580,330, dated December 25,195d, for Tie Rod for Concrete Wall Forms wherein the tie rods projectcompletely through the wall forms and intervening poured concrete sothat after hardening of the concrete and removal of the forms theprojecting ends of the tie rods may be bent, twisted or otherwise workedin various directions to weaken the metal of the rods at the regionswhere they enter' the concrete and ultimately rupture o'r sever theprojecting ends from the medial embedded portions of the rods.

It is common practice, in connection with such frangible tie rodconstructions, to weaken the metal of the tie rod at regions which liewithin the concrete mass so that after breaking away the ends of the rodas outlined above, the retained embedded portion of the rod will liewholly within the concrete mass and present no protruding ends orotherwise create irregularities in the concrete wall surface tointerrupt the continuity or smoothness thereof. To afford freedom ofmovement of the end portions of the rod which are to be broken away sothat the same may be worked in various directions to effect the rupture,it is customary to surround the end portions of the rod in the vicinityof the weakened portions with a filler member, usually in the form of 'acone which, when the concrete is poured, creates a void in the vicinityof the weakened portions of the rod so that when the concrete hashardened, the forms removed, and the cones withdrawn from theirpositions of partial embedment in the surface regions of the concretewall, the

'voids constitute clearance regions for twisting, bending or otlierwiseworking of the tie rod ends to eifect the desired metal weakening andultimate rupture of the tie rods.

Present day cones, which are designed for the purpose briefly outlinedabove, are possessed of numerous limitations among which are theinability of the cone to exclude concrete from the interior of the cone,the tendency for the cone to shift axially along the tie rod, eitherduring handling before tie rod installation or after the tie rod hasbeen installed and while the concrete is being poured, the necessity forinitial assembly of the cones on the tie rod and the inability toassemble the tie rod and cones in the field at a scene of installation,and the struction and use of conventional cones, and toward this end, itcontemplates the provision of a novel void forming device or cone whichis in the form of a two-part separable assembly capable of being appliedto a tie rod in the field at a scene of installation and which, when soapplied, will fit snugly around the tie rod and closely hug the outersurfaces thereof so as to exclude concrete from the interior of thedevice. The invention further contemplates the provision of a cone whichis formed of a suitable plastic material capable of being formed by asimple and inexpensive molding operation to provide a thin walled bodywhich closely surrounds the tie rod and which, therefore, is ofrelatively small overall dimensions so that the void created thereby inthe concrete is relatively small and requires little grouting.

The provision of a cone for tie rods possessing the fea tures brieflyoutlined above being among the principal objects of the invention,another and important object concrete so that its overall dimensions maybe reduced to a size smaller than the overall dimensions of the void,thereby facilitating withdrawal or extraction of the cone from the voidwithout requiring special tools for concrete chipping or cone pryingpurposes.

A still further and equally important object of the invention, in a coneof this general character, is to provide a void-forming member which iscomprised of two separate parts which, when assembled upon each otherand about a tie rod in an operative manner so as to encompass or enclosethe tie rod therebetween, will become effectively locked togetheragainst separation from each other or against dislodgment from the tierod under conditions of norm-a1 force tending to separate the parts, thelocking action taking place by virtue of a novel form of interengaginglocking means associated with the two parts. i

A similar and related object of the invention is to provide a two-piecefrangible cone construction having additional and novel locking meansfor permanently retaining the assembled cone parts upon the tie rodagainst longitudinal shifting therealong during shipping, handling andconcrete pouring operations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cone having anexternal shape characteristic which is such that the void createdthereby in the hardened concrete after the cone has been extracted fromthe concrete has an internal shape characteristicwhich is conducivetoward retention of any grout or grout slug which may be employed forfilling the void. In carrying out this last mentioned object, theinvention contemplates the provision of a cone having dove-tailprotuberauces on the side surfaces thereof which, in the pouredconcrete, create a dove-tail socket in the concrete which, when grouted,prevents lateral withdrawal of the grout slug from the socket.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this timeenumerated, will become more readily apparent as the followingdescription ensues.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section of aconcrete wall form installation showing the improved tie rod and coneassembly operatively applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section and on areduced scale, showing a portion of a concrete wall structure producedby the form of Fig.1 with i one of the improved tie rod and coneassemblies in position within the hardened concrete of the wallstructure preparatory to fracture and removal of the tie rod ends;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken vertically through the wallstructure of Fig. 2 in the vicinity of one of the tie rod assemblies andshowing the tie rod ends and cone devices removed from the wallstructure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFig. l with the cone device being shown in plan elevation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cone assembly of thepresent invention;

Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front end view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through aportion of a concrete wall structure in the vicinity of one of the tierod and cone assemblies;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFig. 8; I

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1010 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 1-2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of aconcrete wall structure in the vicinity of one of the tie rods andillustrating schematically the manner in which the cone devices of thepresent invention are removed from the wall structure; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective exploded view of one of the cone assemblies ofthe present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to Figs. 1 and2, a fragmentary portion of a composite wall form of conventionalconstruction has been illustrated herein and designated in its entiretyat 10. The wall form 10 is made up of two series 12 and 14 ofrectangular panel units 16 with the units of each series being arrangedin edge-to-edge relationship. The panel units 16 of the two series aremaintained in spaced parallel relationship by means of combined spreaderand tie rod assemblies 18, two such assemblies being illustrated in Fig.l as being associated with two adjacent panel units of each series 12and 14in the production of a concrete wall 11.

The individual panel units 16 selected for illustration herein areconventional in their design and no claim is made herein to any noveltyassociated with the same, the novelty of the present invention residingrather in the construction and design of the tie rod assemblies 18 andparticularly in the construction and design of certain cone devicesassociated therewith, the nature and function of which will be describedin detail presently. The illustrated panel units are of theprefabricated steel type, which is to say that they consist ofrectangular plywood facings 20 having steel marginal rectangularreinforcing frames applied to the outer faces of the panels andconsisting of vertical and horizontal frame bars, only the verticalframe bars 22 being illustrated herein. At appropriate levels in theform structure, suitable horizontal frame struts or bars 24 of angleshape design may extend across the panel unit between the opposedvertical frame bars 22.

Specifically, the vertical frame bars 22 are in the form of structuralsteel members which are generally of shallow U-shape cross section,including spaced marginal parallel ribs 26 and 28 and a connecting baseor web portion 30. On the side of the web portion 30 opposite the ribs26 and 28, a shallow longitudinally extending rib 32 defines an angulargroove or recess 33 for reception therein of the extreme vertical edgeregion of the plywood panel facing 20. The horizontal frame members 24are welded to the inside faces of the vertical frame bars 22. Atvertically spaced regions along the vertical frame bars 22 the ribs 26and 28 are notched as at 34 to accommodate the tie rod assemblies 18,while the web portions 30 of the bars 22 are formed with rectangularopenings 36 in horizontal register with the notches 34 for receptiontherethrough of conventional connecting bolt and wedge assemblies 38 bymeans of which adjacent panel units are fastened together, all in amanner that will be made clear presently.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, each combined spreader and tie rodassembly 18 is comprised of a tie rod proper 40 and a pair of compositecohes 42. Although the devices 42 do not present a conical appearance,they function in their broadest aspect in the manner of convene tionaldevices which have become known in the art as tie rod cones. For thisreason, throughout this specification and in the claims appendedthereto, the term cone will be employed to designate these compositedevices.

Actually, the devices have an outside or overall configuration which isgenerally flat with relatively large approximately flat side surfacesand with relatively small truly flat end surfaces. Geometrically, theymay be defined in various terms, depending upon whether the definitionis based upon three dimensional geometry according to Euclid, Proclus,or other non-Euclidean geometry. These devices are hexahedrons with twofaces thereof being in the form of rectangles. All four rectangularfaces are truly flat, while the two trapezoidal faces are flat exceptfor the provision of ribs thereon. Specifically, these devices 42 may bedefined as hexahedral trapezohedrons, or in more general terms, astrapezoidal hexahedrons, this latter definition being based upon thefact that the devices have six faces, of which four of them aretrapezoidal.

The tie rod proper 40 is in the form of a length of flat sheet metalstock of rectangular cross section and of a longitudinal extentappreciably greater than the overall width of the spaced series of wallform panels 12 and 14. A series of spaced slots =44 are provided alongthe rod for selective register with the openings 36 in the web portions30 of the vertical frame bars 22 when the form is assembled. As bestseen in Fig. 9, at regions which are spaced inwardly from the oppositeends of the tie rod 44) and which, when the tie rod is in actual usewithin a concrete wall structure, are disposed within the confines ofthe poured concrete, the metal of the tie rod is relieved by theprovision of respective pairs of opposed notches 46, thus weakening thetie rod at these regions. The notches 46 thus, in effect, divide the tierod 40 into three sections, namely, a medial section 48 and two endsections 50 (see also Fig. 2), the medial section constituting a fixedsection which is adapted to remain embedded in the hardened concrete ofthe wall structure 11 and the end sections constituting free sectionsadapted to be removed by fracturing the tie rod along transverselinesextending across the notches '46 of the opposed pairs of notches ina manner that will be set forth presently.

The devices 42 are adapted to be applied to the tie rods either at thefactory or in the fieldprior to setting up of the concrete wall formand, when in position on the tie rod, they assume positions wherein theyspan longitudinal extents on the rod sections 50 extending from therespective pairs of notches to the regions where the rod. sections 50emerge from the surfaces of the wall structure 11. These cone devicesserve the multiple functions of providing outwardly facing shoulderswhich engage the opposed wall form panel assemblies and limit theirinward collapse during erection of the forms, of creating voids in theconcrete which,-after the forms have been removed but prior toextraction of the pliable or deformable cones, alford clearance pocketsfor workingof therod-sections 50 in various directions "so that themetal of the rod may be fractured along lines of cleavage preparatory"to removal of the r'odsections 50.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, each cone device 42 iscomprised of tw'o'ideritical 'parts which, for convenience ofdescription, may be referred to as a left 6. part 60 and a right part62. The parts 60 and 62 are preferably formed of a suitable plastic,such as a polyethylene polymer which is possessed of an appreciabledegree of tensional and compressional resistance, yet which has somedegree of flexibility so that when shaped to produce the parts 60 and62, it may be flexed under the application of manual pressure theretofor cone extraction purposes in a manner that will become clearpresently.

Each part 60 or 62, as the case may be, is in the form of a generallyflat sheet of the polyethylene polymer and is generally in the form of asymmetrical trapezoid having large and small bases 64 and 66respectively, and equally inclined sides 68 and 70, these various sidesof the trapezoid representing the peripheral edges of the part.Extending along the edge 68 and coextensive with the latter is a raisedmarginal flange 72. The flange 72 is formed adjacent the small base oredge 66 with an inwardly extending protuberance 74 which affords athickened portion 76 on the flange, and a cylindrical post 78 (Fig. 11)projects laterally outwardly from the medial region of this thickenedportion. The post is provided with an enlarged conical head portion 80.The flange 72 is formed adjacent the large base 64 of the trapezoid witha thickened region 82, from whichthere extends laterally a similar post84, likewise having a conical head portion 80. Extending along the edge70 and coextensive therewith is a raised marginal flange 86 havingthickened portions 88 and 90 at the ends thereof adjacent the small andlarge bases 66 and 64 of the trapezoid respectively. The thickenedportion 88 provides an inwardly extending protuberance 92 whichtransversely and directly oppose's the protuberance 74. The thickenedportions 88 and 90 have formed therethrough respective holes 94 and 96designed for reception therein of the posts 78 and 84 when the two parts60 and 62 are assembled upon each other.

As best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, each part 60 or 62, as the case maybe, affords an inside face 100 and an outside face 102, the outside facebeing formed with a raised, longitudinally extending rib 104 which, asshown in Fig. 8, tapers from the small base 66 of the trapezoid towardthe large base 68 thereof and fades into the mate-- rial of the outsideface 102 at a region in close proximity to the small base 64.

Thetwo identical parts 60 and 62 are thus generally of shallowchannel-shaped cross section and they are' adapted to be assembled uponeach other to produce open-ended, generally tubular, cone structure 42.In the production and distribution of the tie rod assemblies 18, the tierods 40 and the separate parts of the cone devices 42 may be furnishedby the manufacturer individually, i.e., separately, or these elementsmay be furnished in completely assembled form with two of the assembledcone devices positioned on a tie rod. If the elements are separatelyfurnished, the cone devices 40 which consist of the two parts 60 and 62will, of course, be assembled in the field over the tie rod to producethe tie rod unit 18 as it appears in Figs. 1 and 2. In either event,whether the cone devices be assembled on the tie rod proper by themanufacturer at the factory, or whether the parts be assembled by theconsumer in the field, the parts 60 and 62 are caused to straddle themedial region of the tie rod proper 40 with the inside faces 100 thereofdisposed in opposition, with the large bases 64 in contiguity, with thesmall bases 66 in contiguity, and with the flange 72 of each partcontiguous to the flange 86 on the other part. Thereafter, the parts aremoved toward each other as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13 so thatthe posts 78 enter the holes 96 and the posts 84 enter the holes 94. Itis to be noted at this point that each of the conical enlargements 80 atthe outer ends of the various posts affords an annular shoulder 105(Fig. 11) which seats against a mating annular shoulder 106 disposed atthe bottom of a countersunk recess or socket 108 associated with each ofthe holes 94 and'96. The depth of the socket 108 is such that theconical enlargement is adapted to be wholly confined within the confinesof the socket when the posts are fully received through the variousholes provided for them. During such movement of the two parts 60 and 62toward each other preparatory to effecting the assembly, the inwardlyextending opposed protuberances 74 are maintained in transverse.register with one of the pairs of opposed notches 46 so that when theparts are finally moved to their home positions, one upon the other,these protuberances engage the notches as shown in Fig. 9 and securelylock the assembly 42 against longitudinal shifting along the tie rodproper '40 in either direction.

When the parts '60 and 62 are assembled upon a tie rod, the outer facesof the flanges 72 and 86 meet each other in face-to-face contact and, incombination with the wall surfaces 100, define at the large base of thetrapezoidal-hexahedron a rectangular opening 110 of approximately thesame dimensions as the cross sectional dimensions of the tie rod proper40. Similarly, at the small base of the trapezoidal hexahedron, theseflanges, 72 and 76, in combination with the wall surfaces 100, define arectangular opening 112 of similar width but of slightly greater lengththan the transverse width of the tie rod 40. The tie rod 40 passesthrough the two openings 110 and 112 and, because the length of theopening 112 is slightly greater than the width of the tie rod 40, aclearance region is provided which permits limited freedom of swingingmotion of the two frangible end sections 50 of the tie rod 40 relativeto the medial section 48 during working of the sections formetalfracturing punposes.

In assembling the form 10, the various panel sections 12 and 14 areerected in their edge-to-edge relationship and the tie rods proper 40,with the two cone devices 42 assembled thereon, are positioned in thevarious horizontally aligned notches 34 as shown in Fig. l. The panelsections are brought to bear against the outwardly facing shouldersafforded by the large bases of the cone devices and the bolt and Wedgeassemblies 38 are insorted through the various registering holes 36 tolock the panels in position in the usual manner of erection of suchforms. Thereafter, the concrete is poured and when the latter hashardened or become set, the assemblies 38 are removed and the formsdisassembled, thus leaving the tie rod assemblies partially embedded inthe concrete wall structure 11 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with the endsections 50 protruding from the Wall. Thereafter, by manually engagingthe end sections 50 and Working the same in a vertical plane back andforth, the metal of the tie rods proper 40 will become fractured alongtransverse lines of cleavage passing through the opposed notches 46(Fig. 1) so that the ends of the sections 50 may be inserted from themedial section 46 and slid longitudinally from the interior of theassembled'cone devices 18, thus leaving the medial sections 48 embeddedin the concrete of the wall 11. It is to be noted at this point that anextremely small angular displacement of the end sections 50, out ofalignment with the medial sections .48, will suffice to effect thedesired fracture. Clearance for this small displacement may be affordedby the looseness or play afforded between the protuberances 92 and thenotches 46 with which they are' in mating register, and such clearancemay also be afforded by the resiliency of the plastic material of thesections 60 and 62 and its ability to yield slightly under theapplication of compressional, tensional and torsional stresses appliedthereto. It is also to be noted that because the flat ends of thetrapezoidal structures at the large bases thereof fit in firmfaceto-face contact with the vertical side edges of the vertical framebars 22, the wet concrete is prevented from entering the bore affordedby the mating sections or parts 60 of the devices 18.

After the end sections 50 have been removed as set forth above, theassembled sections 60 and 62 may be bodily withdrawn from the voidscreated by their presence in the poured concrete of the wall 11.Extraction of the devices 18 may be effected by engaging a suitable toolsuch as a hook behind one or both of the lips afforded by the thickenedportions 82 and 90, and thereafter, exerting outward pulling force onthe devices so as to slide them outwardly from the voids. The taperedribs 104 which give a dove-tail configuration to the trapezoidalstructure in transverse cross section, function as cam members duringwithdrawal of the devices 18 from the voids so that as the devices areslid progressively outwardly from the voids, the large base region ofthe trapezoidal structure is compressed as shown in Fig. 12 and iscaused to assume a transverse dimension sufficiently small that mouth orrim of the void in the concrete will not bind against the device andprevent its withdrawal from the void. In other words, the combinedthicknesses of the walls of the sections 60 and 62 at their regions ofgreatest thickness near the small base of the trapezoidal hexahedronstructure, and including the maximum thicknesses of the tapered ribs104, is less than the transverse width of the mouth of the void createdwithin the concrete structure by virtue of the existence of theassembled device 13 on the tie rod proper 40. When the device 18 isremoved in this manner, the assembly of the two sections 60 and 62remains intact and the device is capable of being reused in a subsequentconcrete form installation, it being merely necessary to pull, pry orotherwise separate the sections 60 and 62, each from the other, and toreapply them over a fresh tie rod proper.

Finally, it is to be noted that the tapered ribs 104, in addition toserving their function as cam members whereby the device as a whole willbe automatically contracted during extraction of the same from the voidin the concrete structure 11 as outlined above, impart to the void adove-tail configuration in horizontal cross section which serves toprevent dislodgment of any grout slug which may be introduced into thevoid to preserve the smooth continuity of the outside wall surfaces.

The invention is not'to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specificationsince various changes in the details of construction may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Only insofar as theinvention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claimsis the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a tie rod assembly for holding a pair of upstanding concrete wallforms in spaced relationship, said assembly comprising in combination aone-piece strip of fiat metal stock presenting straight parallellongitudinally extending side edges, one of said side edges beingprovided at a region spaced inwardly from one end of the strip with anotch the existence of which establishes a reduction in the transversewidth of the strip and a consequent weakening of the metal of the stripin said inwardly spaced region, thus dividing the strip into a fixedsection adapted to remain at least in part embedded in the concretewhich is poured between the wall forms and a free section adapted toproject at least in part outwardly from one face of the poured concrete,and be wrested from the fixed section by working of the free sectionbodily back and forth in the general plane of the flat metal stock, anda tubular cone encompassing said region of the strip and-extending ashort distance longitudinally from said region toward said one end ofthe strip, said cone having extreme end regions closely hugging thesides of the strip to exclude concrete from the interior of the cone,said cone being formed with a longitudinal bore therethroughthroughwhichthe strip extend-s, and an inwardly projecting protuberance on the wallof said bore extending into said notch and servingto preventlongitudinal shifting movement of the cone on said strip, said tubularcone being in the form of a generally fiat hexahedron having symmetricaltrapezoidal side faces extending parallel to the general plane of themetal stock of said strip, rectangular end faces extending normal to thegeneral plane of the metal stock of said strip, and rectangular top andbottom faces which converge relative I to each other and which extend atan acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip, said cone beingdisposed on said strip with the large base of said trapezoidal sidefaces being positioned next adjacent to said one end of the strip, and atapered rib formed on one of said side faces and extendinglongitudinally of the cone, said rib increasing in thickness toward theend thereof adjacent the end of the cone remote from said one end of thestrip.

2. In a tie rod assembly for holding a pair of upstanding concrete wallforms in spaced relationship, said assembly comprising in combination aone-piece strip of flat metal stock presenting straight parallellongitudinally extending side edges, said side edges being provided at aregion spaced inwardly from one end of the strip with a pair oftransversely opposed notches the existence of which establishes areduction in the transverse width of the strip and a consequentweakening of the metal of the strip in said inwardly spaced region, thusdividing the strip into a fixed section adapted to remain at least inpart embedded in the concrete which is poured between the wall forms anda free section adapted to project at least in part outwardly from oneface of the poured concrete and be wrested from the fixed section byWorking of the free section bodily back and forth in the general planeof the flat metal stock, and a two'piece separable cone encompassingsaid region of the strip and extending a short distance longitudinallyfrom said region toward said one end of the strip, said cone beingcomprised of two similar cone parts, each being of shallow channel shapecross section and having a flat web portion with marginal inwardlyconverging flanges, the flanges of each cone part contacting therespective flanges of the other cone part in edge-to-edge relationshipwhen the parts are assembled, said flanges and web portions degfiningtherebetween a longitudinally extending bore through which said stripextends, at least one of the flanges on each cone part being formed witha protuberance extending into one of the notches and serving to preventlongitudinal shifting of the cone on said strip, and upstanding posts onone of each pair of contacting flanges, the other flange of said pairbeing formed with holes in which said posts are frictionally received.

3. In a tie rod assembly, the combination set forth in claim 2 whereineach post is provided with a tapered enlargement at its extreme outerend providing an inwardly facing annular shoulder, said holes beingforme with countersunk sockets having annular bottom walls, saidenlargements being received in and wholly contained by said sockets withsaid annular shoulders seating on said bottom walls when the parts areassembled.

4. in a tie rod assembly for holding a pair of upstanding concrete wallforms in spaced relationship, said assembly comprising in combination aone-piece strip of fiat metal stock presenting straight parallellongitudinally extending side edges, said side edges being provided at aregion spaced inwardly from one end of the strip with a pair oftransversely opposed notches the existence of which establishes areduction in the transverse width of the strip and a consequentweakening of the metal of the strip in said inwardly spaced region, thusdividing the strip into a fixed section adapted to remain at least inpart embedded in the concrete which is poured between the wall forms anda free section adapted to project at least in part outwardly from oneface of the poured concrete and be wrested from the fixed section byworking of the free section bodily back and forth in the general planeof the flat metal stock, and a two-piece seperable cone encompassingsaid region of the strip and extending a short distance longitudinallyfrom said region toward said one end of the strip, said cone beingcomprised of two similar cone parts, each being of shallow channel shapecross section and having a web portion with marginal flanges, theflanges of each cone part contacting the respective flanges of the othercone part in edge-toedge relationship when the parts are assembled, saidflanges and web portions defining therebetween a longitudinallyextending bore through which said strip extends with the inside faces ofsaid web portions in face-to-face contact with the side faces of saidflat metal strip, the outside face of each web portion being formed witha tapered raised rib thereon extending longitudinally of the cone, saidrib increasing in thickness toward the end thereof next adjacent saidone end of the strip, the combined thicknesses of the two ribs at theends of greater thick ness being less than the combined thicknesses ofthe web portions and of the metal stock of the strip at the end of thecone next adjacent said one end of the strip, at least one of theflanges on each cone part being formed with a protuberance extendinginto one of said notches and serving to prevent longitudinal shifting ofthe cone. on said strip, and, 'interengaging means on said cone partsfor releasably maintaining the same in their assembled relation.

5. In a tie rod assembly, the combination set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid interengaging means comprises upstanding posts on one of each pairof contacting flanges, the other flange of such pair being formed withholes therein in which said posts are frictionally received.

6. In a tie rod assembly, the combination set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid cone is of overall trapezoidal cross section in the general planeof said flat strip of metal stock with the large base of the trapezoidbeing remote from said one end of the strip, and wherein the cone is ofoverall trapezoidal cross section in a plane normal to the general planeof said flat strip with the large base of the trapezoid being nextadjacent to said one end of the strip.

7. In a tie rod assembly, the combination set forth in claim 4 whereinthe cone parts are each formed of resilient flexible material andwherein said interengaging means comprises upstanding posts on one ofeach pair of contacting flanges, the other flange of said pair beingformed with holes therein in which said posts are frictionally received,a tapered enlargement at the outer end of each post, and means in thevicinity of each hole defining a shoulder having releasable interlockingengagement with one of said enlargements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS869,391 Peabody Oct. 29, 1907 1,912,356 Beghetti June 6, 1933 2,014,080Colt Sept. 10, 1935 2,074,394 Hoiier Mar. 23, 1937 2,314,866 Bosco Mar.30, 1943 2,412,307 Tatsch Dec. 10, 1946 2,613,424 Kenney Oct. 14, 19522,728,127 Armstrong Dec. 27, 1955

